The next morning Lorelai was sitting at the kitchen table sipping her coffee when Rory walked out of her room
"Morning sweets"
"Morning" Rory poured herself a mug of coffee and sat down at the table. "Has Luke gone to work?"
"Yeah he had to help Caesar out this morning. Hey hon… about last night I am really sorry"
"Mom it's okay. I know it's not your fault. I still can't believe them, I can't believe they didn't even ask, they just assumed. I mean no one asked me if I wanted to move, leave my house, my friends, the town"
"Whoa Hun calm down, we're not moving"
"Sorry, I know. I'm just so angry with them. I can't imagine going back there next Friday"
"About that... we're not going to go back there. Well I'm not and you don't have to either … unless you want to"
"But we have to, they're paying for Chilton that was the deal"
"Not anymore. Luke and I are paying for Chilton."
"Mom you can't afford that"
"I can't but Luke can, he told me last night he wants to"
"No mom, I can't let him spend his money on me like that. Chilton's really expensive"
"I know Hun and I told him that and I told him I couldn't let him do it but he insisted, it's really important to him"
Rory sighed "But..."
"Rory look, you know I would never take charity from anyone but well... Luke told me the money is ours, his and mine and well I'll probably just spend it on shoes"
"Mom"
"Rory he really wants to do this. He ... he told me last night that he thinks of you as his daughter" Lorelai stopped to look at Rory. "He has the money and he really wants to do this for you. He loves you kid and doesn't want to see us upset every Friday night... frankly I think he's sick of me crying" Lorelai laughed "Is that okay with you?"
"If Luke doesn't have a problem with you crying on him then why would I?"
Lorelai rolled her eyes "No I mean about Chilton?"
"Um... I guess, if you're really sure he wants to do this and he's not doing it because he feels like he has to"
"I'm sure"
"Okay"
"Now are you okay, I mean about what happened last night? Is there anything you want to talk about?"
"No I'm just still a little mad" Rory stood up and put her arms around Lorelai. "I'm going to have a shower"
Later that morning Rory was in her room when there was a knock at the front door before it opened "Hey you guys home?"
"Sookie, come in" Rory replied coming out of her bedroom
"Hey Buttercup whatya up to?"
"I'm just about to go and see Dean"
"Oh the love" Sookie giggled
"Sookie" Rory blushed slightly "Ah mom's upstairs, can you tell her I'm going now"
"Sure have fun"
"Thanks. Bye"
Sookie made her way up the stairs and knocked lightly on the bedroom door "Lorelai it's me"
"Hey Sookie come in. I didn't hear the door"
"Rory told me you were here and she said to tell you she's going to Dean's now" Sookie looked at Lorelai who was just sitting on the bed eating from a packet of M&M's. "What are you doing today?"
Lorelai sighed "Nothing. I'm bored. Luke's at work and Rory has a life so I was just sitting up here trying to decide what to do today" Lorelai offered Sookie the M&M's
"Good because I was the same. I thought we could have a girlfriends day, you know chat about boys, go shopping, eat cake, whatever we like"
"Oh that sounds fantastic, just what I need. Let me just grab my shoes and a jacket" Lorelai jumped off the bed and grabbed a pair of shoes from the corner and a jacket off the chair and put them on.
"Everything alright honey?"
"Just a really bad night last night"
"Oh Friday night at the parents... the usual?"
"Way worse than normal. My parents informed me that we're moving"
"They're moving house?" Sookie asked confused
"No apparently we are. As a wedding present they wanted to buy us a house in Hartford and sell this place"
Sookie's mouth fell open "You're kidding"
"Oh I wish I was"
"That's... that's...awful. I'm so sorry"
"It's okay but let's just say we're not moving."
"Was there yelling?"
"Oh yeah … from me and then from Luke"
"Luke yelled ... at your parents?"
Lorelai nodded "Yeah I didn't know he went there until he came back home and told me he gave them what for"
"Wow he loves you"
"Yes he does" Lorelai smiled "but I feel so bad, poor Luke having to deal with my dramas and the incredible crying woman"
"Huh?"
"When it was just Rory and I and there was a drama I'd deal with it. I'd be strong and deal with what had to be done and then when it all got too much I'd go to my room, shut the door and have a cry then I'd be fine. But now, every time something happens it's like I've sprung a leak and poor Luke has to comfort me"
"But that's good, you shouldn't have to deal with everything on your own"
"I know and now that I know Luke is here and he's so good at the comforting thing I just break down and then I'm all good again but I do feel bad for Luke"
"Honey that is what's great about being in a relationship, you share the good & bad and your hopes and fears"
"I know...he's really great at the comforting thing" Lorelai smiled "So tell me about Jackson - is he good at the comforting thing?"
"Okay I think it's time we get this show on the road"
"Sookie"
"I'll tell you in the car"
"Okay let me just write a note for Rory and Luke and we'll leave"
Luke was in the diner cleaning the tables after the lunch rush when the bells jingled as the door was opened and shut again. Luke turned around to see Rory making her way to the counter before sitting down.
"Hi Rory"
"Hi Luke" Rory smiled sweetly "Wow I'm really thirsty"
Luke rolled his eyes and picked up a mug and the coffee pot "very subtle"
Rory giggled "I was taught by the best" Rory took a sip of her coffee before looking up at Luke "Hey Luke can I talk to you about something?"
Luke put the cloth down on the counter "ah.. yeah…sure"
"Mom told me this morning about you wanting to pay for Chilton"
"Oh"
"Luke I don't want you to feel like you have to. Chilton's really expensive"
"I know and it's okay... I want to do it. I want to do it for you and for your mom. You two shouldn't have to be held to ransom by your grandparents and well… the money's just sitting there… I'd like to do it… really"
"Are you sure?"
Luke just looked at her and nodded.
Rory walked around the counter and kissed him on the cheek "Thanks Luke I mean it. It means so much that you'd do that for me"
Luke looked away embarrassed, still getting used to their public displays of affection and also the love he felt for the girl he always thought of as his own. Luke looked back at Rory and smiled "Now back on the other side of the counter, the insurance doesn't cover you"
Rory smiled at Luke then walked back to her seat and took a sip of her coffee. "Hey Luke?"
"Yeah?"
"Really, reeaallllyy thirsty"
Luke mumbled something under his breath as he poured a takeout cup full of coffee. He placed it in front of her smiling.
"Thanks Luke... for everything"
Luke smiled at her "See you at home"